Kunlun Energy, PetroChina's gas distribution and infrastructure unit, plans to invest HK$22 billion this year building gas pipelines and liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing plants, as more petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles are converted to run on natural gas.

Sales at mainland carmaker Geely Automobile in the first four months of this year are already well ahead of its target growth rate, the company said, and it predicted a strong second half as long as the government did not further limit new car sales.

Audi deliveries rose 13 per cent to 38,710 vehicles on the mainland and in Hong Kong in April, the company said on its website. Bayerische Motoren Werke, the world's largest luxury carmaker, reported an 11 per cent gain to 30,311 units in China, the firm said on its website. Daimler's Mercedes-Benz said sales increased 11 per cent to 16,241 units on the mainland and in Hong Kong.

We can't ban them, but nothing says we can't hit them hard. So why aren't we doing it? We have a gutless government. Tiny, overcrowded and polluted Hong Kong now has more than 500,000 private cars clogging our narrow streets.

That's outrageous when we have one of the world's best transport systems. Nobody needs a car here. Hongkongers own cars just for the sake of it.

To mark its 20th anniversary four years ago, Japanese carmaker Infiniti unveiled a concept car intended to embody the very essence of its design philosophy - the DNA to be instilled in all future models.

Under a new registration system, all military vehicles must be given new car plates by Wednesday, and blacklisted sedans include those made by Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lincoln, Cadillac, Bentley, Jaguar and Porsche, as well as the Volkswagen Phaeton, according to a ministry website.

Brilliance Auto, BMW's partner in China, expects sales to jump 24.34 per cent this year to 200,000 units despite health concerns over its cars. Allegations about the use of cancer-causing car components have plagued BMW and its German rivals, including Audi and Mercedes-Benz, since they were raised by a media report earlier this month.

Spring Airlines, the Shanghai-based budget carrier, is poised to include passenger cars in its in-flight shopping catalogue alongside the perfumes and watches, as it cashes in on well-paid frequent travellers.

Everyone knows Hong Kong is an expensive town. But you might be surprised by the total costs for even generic expenditure, such as owning a dog. The cost of owning a car or raising a child takes things to another, stratospheric, level altogether. The following is not for the timid. Money is earned and it must be spent.

The new system has been installed in a Nissan Leaf electric car and tested at up to 64km/h on private roads around the university. Researchers hope the cost of the system can be brought down to £100 (HK$1,200) and it can be fitted to existing models.